The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2332, 18 February 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1884.

Latest files of Cape Town papers state that smallpox was spreading in some parts of South Africa. In Basutoland it was spreading rapidly. The Newcastle correspondent of the Witness reported that on December 19 two natives were sick at the Ingogo with this disease. Seventeen fresh cases had been reported at Kimberley in a very few days. We understand that the Rev. W. Morley, the newly-elected President of the Wesleyan Conference, will visit Kumara in a few days, in the interest of the Connexional Loan Fund. Mr Morley will d diver a lecture on some popular subject. admission to which will be free, but a collection wiil be taken and subscriptions solicited in aid of the fund. The object of the fund, so far as we understand it, is to relieve the burden on Church properties, by advancing money at a nominal interest, and allowing a lengthened period for its re-payment. It is proposed to raise £IO,OOO, of which about £7OOO has already been promised ; and as Mr Morley has other places to visit after leaving Kumara, it i; r 1 1 <>■ i'.*■ 1!r. the full amount will be secured.

The sun’s distance from the Earth, as estimated from the observations made during the transit of the planet Venus across the Sun’s disc in December, 1882, is 92,700,000. The various calculations and result of observations have taken many months to compute and compare, and this will probably be the most correct computation that can ever be arrived at. Written tenders are required for widening section No. 1 (one mile and 35 chains) of the Cobden Coal Creek track into a dray road. They will be received at the Resident Engineer’s Office, Greymouth, until noon of Saturday, March Ist, where drawings, specifications and general conditions may be seen. A large, substantial, and well-finished four-roomed house in Seddon street is for sale, the occupants, Mrs Galland and family, being about to remove to Christchurch. Any parties seeking for a good residence or a capital investment will find this an excellent opportunity for purchasing. A seventh share in Rowley and party’s extended claim at Ross Terrace is for sale by tender. Particulars can be obtained on application to Mr Peter Grant, at the claim, or Mr D. Hannan, mining agent. To-morrow, Tuesday, Messrs Girdwood, Lahman and Co. will sell at the Preston Yards, Greymouth, a lot of grand fat and good-bred store pigs. In the Robin Hood Novelty Consultation on the Dunedin Cup, Kumara investors in tickets have drawn—No. 900, Water Colour; and Nos. 135 and 350, cash bonds. The consultation was drawn for the full amount, £IOOO. A cricket match was played on Saturday afternoon last, at Hokitika, between the Union (Hokitika) Cricket Club and the Ross Cricket Club. It resulted in another victory for the Union Club, by six wickets. A match was also played on Saturday, between a Kanieri school eleven and a Hokitika State School eleven. The Kanieri team was captained by H. Williams, and Hokitika by A. Harrop. The Kanieri boys won by 82 runs. The Press reports that as Mr Dobson, surveyor to the Oxford Road Board, was ascending from the Townsend Valley he slipped and broke the small bone of his leg. Mr Dobson was conveyed to camp, and subsequently to his residence, with considerable difficulty, having been several hours on the journey. His injured limb is progressing favorably. The late Thomas Holloway was 84 years of age at the time of his death. He left a fortune of £5,000,000, most of which was bequeathed to charitable institutions. When Woodyear’s Circus were on their overland trip from the east coast, they purchased (the Argus states) the wheels and frame of a very stout express waggon, and loaded it with chaff to serve them on their way here. Last Thursday they left it with Mr Vinsen at his coach factory to have it completed with a substantial new and ornamental body, as becomes circus gear. On Saturday afternoon it was ready for delivery finished and painted in first class style. Four months ago Mr Vinsen started in business with little or no help ; now he keeps five or six men constantly employed. Greymouth is surely going ahead. In the way of building and other labonr for mechanics there is twice the stir now that was noticeable six months ago. Four lads (who, being all 14 years of age, might have been expected to be wiser), after a severe course of “ The Boy Voyageurs,” “Robinson Crusoe,” and other adventurous literature, started from Blackfriars Bridge, London, on Boxing Day, in an open boat, intending to proceed to Australia. They had victualled their little craft with a quantity of biscuits, and carried, besides, a compass, a teapot and kettle, some candles and matches, a box of stationery, a bulletmould, a revolver, and some powder. After proceeding safely as far as Greenwich they ran upon a mud bank during a fog, and being compelled to appeal for assistance, were rescued by the police galley and ignominiously locked up until their parents turned up to claim them. The Magistrate before whom they were brought warned the boys to be less foolish, and they were sent home. A desperate agrarian murder has been committed at Annaghdrum, four miles from Galway. A farmer named John Moylan was shot dead by an unknown assassin in the presence of his wife. The murderer fired once, wounding Moylan. His wife threw herself on the body of her husband to protect him. The murderer dragged her away, and then shot Moylan a second time. Moylan had taken a farm from which the previous tenant had been evicted.